Summary

On January 15, 2014, Anthony Fanelli was sentenced in Harris County, Texas, state court to 20 years in jail and ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution in connection with a household goods moving scheme. 

On various dates, between May 2009 and January 2012, Fanelli, along with others, lured customers into doing business with various moving companies by offering extremely low moving estimates. After taking possession of the customers' household goods, the price was significantly increased and delivery of their household goods was withheld until the customers paid the fraudulently inflated price. In addition, customers were threatened that if they refused to pay, their household goods would be auctioned.

This investigation was conducted jointly with the Houston and Austin, Texas, Police Departments, with assistance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.